Centre For Active Digital Education (CADE)
Active Digital Education (ADE) is a pedagogical approach to designing and teaching using digital tools. This concept has been developed at the University of Northampton to accompany their pedagogical approach of Active Blended Learning (ABL). The ADE approach uses digital tools to enable the construction of knowledge using technology as a conduit. Such active co-creation has the potential to build employability skills consistent with the transformative ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Quality Education. It engages individuals in knowledge construction, reflection and critique, the development of learner autonomy and the achievement of learning outcomes using digital tools.
The Centre brings together expertise and excellence from all areas of the University and beyond to become a hub for development and dissemination in ADE and develop knowledge exchange opportunities with external companies. CADE builds on the work and networks already developed through the existing Digital Technologies Special Interest Group (SIG). The Centre will act as a unifying structure for relevant SIGs focusing on innovative digital technology themes such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Distance Learning (DL), Game Based Learning (GBL), and eXtended Reality (XR). As such, the umbrella of ADE and the Centre will act as a focal point and a vehicle for the creative deployment of technologies across disciplines, raising the profile of scholarly debate about ADE and becoming a hub for the development and exchange of ADE knowledge. ADE provides an inclusive, multidisciplinary environment supporting and sharing research and innovation.
We support innovation across a broad spectrum of digital technologies in research, and research-led teaching and learning acting as a point of advice on relation to TEF and NSS developments which can be underpinned and supported by ADE activities. CADE also addresses local digital skills shortages and business growth challenges by working closely with external organisations. This will help businesses identify future opportunities and increase the employability of our students.
Centre For Active Digital Education (CADE) Leadership
- Rob Howe – Co-Leader
- Dr Emma Whewell – Co-Leader
- Dr Helen Caldwell – Co-Leader
- Rob Howe and Karl Downing – Co-leaders Artificial Intelligence (AI) SIG
- Devon Rossetti and Andrew Debus – Co-Leaders Games based learning (GBL) SIG
- Jim Harris and David Meechan – Co-leaders Distance Learning (DL) SIG
- Simon Chapman and David Nicholls – Co-leaders Extended Reality (XR)
- Richard Byles and Kelly Lea – CADE Researchers
Simon Sneddon – Leader Technology and Social Justice (TSJ)